Electrical distribution



Sept. 20, 19324 H. s. ARNoLo ETAL l,878,573

ELECTRICAL msrnxnu'rrou rund u1u-cn s, 192e 5 sheets-sheet 1 I Vf.

"WK il' l I Il aNvENs BY Sept. 20, 1932. H. s. ARNOLD ErAL ELECTRICAL DIs'rnIUTfoN @Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed latch 5, 1926 OR Y Sept. 20, 1932. H. s. ARNoLD ErAL 1,878,573

ELECTRICAL DISTRIBUTION i Filed March 3. 1926 4 3 Sheets-.Sheet 3 $495 Jia/. 30

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This invention relates to the distribution of the electric wiring in oiiice buildings, loft buildings and similar structures.

Some of the main requisites .in this class of work are low cost of installation, noninterference with other structural work and adaptability or so-called liexibility to meet the varying requirements of diii'erent tenants. In two prior Patents #1,480,587 and 1.515,324 we have disclosed how these needs are metto a large extent by a stem of wire receiving raceways embedded 1n the ceiling slabs of the building structure and having e outlets to the ceilingat predetermined intervals with the possibility of other subsequently formed outlets between the tixedly originally installed outlets. The systems covered by these patents are adequate to all building requirements thus far encountered but the complete utilization of .the system involves the cutting through the ceiling slab into-the raceways at various selected oints between the initiallyv installed spac outlets. Special skill is required in locating and cutting through these extra outlets and a certain amount of .refinishing is sometimes necessary to hide breaks or injuries to the structure, resulting from the cutting through the slab into the raceway. f

Some of the more important objects of the present invention are to make provision in the original installation for all outlets that may be later required, in a form such that they may be immediately utilized and to accomplish this in a relatively inex nsive structure which will be practical an desir- .able in every way.

The foregoing and other objects are attained by certain novel features of construction, combinations and relations of arts as hereinafter setfforth and broadly claimed.

The drawings accompanying and formin part of this specification illustrate practica embodiments of the invention but in 'view of the fact that these drawin are rimarily for purposes of disclosure, it shou d be understood that the structure may be modified in various respects without departure from the truespirit` and scope of the invention.

Figure 1 is a sectional perspective view of a tyical installation in `acombined ceiling an oor slab.

Figure 2 is an enlarged cross sectional view of the raceway and one of the outlet fittings as embedded in the body of the slab and be fore the Hoor lill is completed.

Figure 3 is a top plan of the same parts with the top or cover of the raceway broken awa to show the outlet litting.

Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional view as .0'

taken on substantially the plane of line 4 4 of Figure 2.

.Figures 5 and 6 are cross sectional and broken longitudinal sectional views respectively of a modified form of interlock between the base and cover strips of the race Figure 7 is a cross sectional view of the cap or hollow cover of the raceway illustrating particularly the way the sides are sprung .7

the building structure illustrated in u Figure 1, the combination ceiling and floor slab is indicated at 1, the so-called filler at .2 and the door surface at 3. In this view,

threeof the wire raceways` are yindicatedat 4, disposed in spaced parallel relationben tween the beams 5 and having downwardly extending outlet fittings 6 disposed in relatively closely spaced rlation and open' down to the ceilin level ofthe slab.

method of constructing the raceways and outlet fittings. In these views 7 desi atea a base strip designed to rest on the y of the slab and forming a poeitio and supporting member for the outlet. ttings Figures 2, 3 an 4 illustrate a preferred n outwardly facing grooves 10 in the 'a0 edges from twelve to twent -four inches between f.

to form when engaged with the base strip, -a substantially rectangular raceway of amp e size to receive the wires for a plurality of circuits and of substantially unobstructed interior so as to enable the wires to be readily fished into and through the same.

A suitable form of interlock is preferably rovided between the base stri and cover. n the structures illustrated t is interlock is afforded by inturned lips or flanges 9 along the lower edges of the' cover enga 'ng in ge portions of the base strip.

Ordinarily the en agement of these flanges in the ooves is su cient but if a more secure fastening is desired, the cover may be formed with lugs or tangs on its lower edges, as shown at 11 in Figures 5 and 6, to enter slots 12 in the edge portions of the base. These lugsA are shown as turned inwardly lock the flanges 9 and the cover in this case also may be formed as indicated in Figure 7 with the sides sprung inwardly so that the cover will snap intoengagement with the base and hold there with spring tension. v

The grooves in the base may be formed as shown in Figure 2 by rolling inward the metal of the same near the opposite side This leaves the central or body portion of the strip with doubled reinforced edges 13 and with depressed side strips 14 formin shoulders beari on the slab. Sub stantiall ures 5 and 6, where the edge portions of the base are flanged downwardl at 15 to reoeive the perforations 12 and t ence outward'- 1 to rovide the sup rting edge strips or oul ers 16. In bothocases it will be seen that the base member has depreed supporting shoulders or edge strips, a raised central portion to form the bottom of the raceway and upstanding flanges connecting the edge and central portions and provided with seats receiving the inturned flanges or lugs on the cover. This structure reinforces and strengthens the base strip, enabling the use of a relatively light sheet metal yand locates the interlocking recesses so that 4they will not likel be clo ged with the concrete and so that t ey can readily cleared, if thatl is necessary.

The ceiling outlets are spaced closely enough to answer not only the usual or average requirements, but also-such unusual or special requirements as various tenants may demand. For such purposes, a spacing of lets approximately twenty-four inches be? tween centers.

y the same effectl is produced in Fig- The outlet boxes or fittings are illustrated as a general funnel shape and as made in upper and lower sections 17, 18, connected in abutting relation by screws 19 engaged with screw lugs 20, 21 struck out from the respective sections. This two part structure is desirable, allowing as it does for the manufacture of the upper section of a uniform depth and the lower section of different standard len hs to suit ceiling slabs of different thic ness. The lower section may be c lindrical in shape, as shown, as the upper section be rectangular at the top and tapered down by its funnel shape to the cylindrical outline of the lower section.

The outlet fittings may be secured to the base strip in various ways in the illustration, the side edges of the up r sections of the fittin are flanged outwar ly at 22 to rest on top o the edge portions of the base strip and the end edges 23 of the section arc cut down and bowed outwardly, as indicated in Figures and 4, so that they can be snapped un er the lower face of the base strip. The openings 24 in the base strip to receive the outer fittings are therefore substantially rectangular and of such length and width that the fittings can be forced down therethrough until the outwardly bowed ends snap beneath the strip and the edge flanges rest on top of the strip, under which conditions the fittin become firmly positioned and interlocke with the base stri A special advantage o the method of connection described is that the base strips may be shipped flat and the outlet fittings be inserted just before installation. This method of assembly also enables the blanking o' at any points where outlets would be unnecessa or in the way by simply covering any of sulc'h openings 24 by a flat late or the like prior to the pouring of the s ab. With ordinary care in pouring such covers actually may not be needed as the onl point is to prevent the concrete of the sl'ab from rising through openings 24 in the base to such an extent as might interfere with the future drawing of the wires through the raceway.

The outlet boxes or fittings extend through the body of the ceiling slab and therefore are of a height substantially equal to the thickness of the slab. The fittings may be formed in one piece in heights ual to the thickness of ceiling slabs or combination ceiling and floor slabs ordinarily used, but the two-piece form of fitting shown has the advantage that the upper funnel shaped sections may be made all in one height and the lower sections be made in different heights and be used, according to their heights, with the upper sections to suit different thicknesses of slab.

The outlets are positioned un the wooden or other forms for the slabs 'on eighteen inch centers or other spacing decided upon and may be held in place during the pouring of Leraars the slab by nailing them on the forms, for instance, with fasten' inserted through nailing lugs such as ilixigiscated at 25, Figure 6. The slab is poured to the level of the tops of the boxes and to prevent concrete from entering the boxes, temporary plugs of wood or the like may be inserted in the unnel tops of the boxes, as indicated at 26 in Figure 2. After the slab has hardened and before the till is applied, the raceways are completed so that in the final structure such as shown in Figure 1, there are embedded in the slab, the continuous raceways adapted to receive any desired number of circuit wires and lines of l5 closel spaced finished outlets opening down ward y from said raceways to the ceiling level. These outletsare of a character to permit extra lines of wiring to be fished into or from the raceways wherever required, on ythe centers decided u on. Until used, these outlets may be close by caps 27 which, as shown 'in Figure 2, ma simply be telescoped partly up into the out ets kand temporarily secured by fastenings such as the bayonet joints r28. Whenever one of the outlets is to be utilized, this cap or closure is removed so as to give access to the full interior of the raceway. The wires may be easily drawn out or pushed back into the raceway ,for wirin purposes and if a lighting fixture or the li e is to be located at the outlet, this may be done by supporting the same from a fixture stud 29 secured to the ton of the racewav.

If desired, the raceway may be provided at desired lintervals with tapped openings 30 to receive screws 31 for securing such fixture sup rts in place. This enables the fixture stu s to be entered and fastened in place up through the outlet box after the installation has otherwise been completed. The pipe for sup orting the fixture is indicated in broken Ines at 32 in Figure 2 and the light-- f ing fixture su ported from such pipe is shown at 33 in igure 1.. v

The raceway made up of base stripV and attached hollow cover has many advantages over the method of simply securing the out et `ttings at redetermined close centers on the form an then securing a raceway in position over and in communication with the same. The base stri y lace a means for de nitely s acing the outets on the desired centers an in addition to providing a smooth door for the raceway,

adds a certain amount of reinforcement to the completed slab. ,The provisiony of` the locking seats in thesides of the kbase strip prevents an accumulation of concrete about such. seats kand this location, together .withv the outstanding edge strips 14, enables anyconcrete that may adhere, to be readily scraped out with a screwdriver or other similarltool. When allis ready for the till to be applied to the slab, the covers are snapped into place over the strips, automatically provides in the lirstinterlocking therewith to form completed racewaysover which the fill and` floor surface may be applied withoutffear of disturbing such raceways; The laterally extending edge strips 14 and 16 also serve as bearin supporting the cover and if desired, ma shaped so as to overcome any tendenc o the cover to spread or lose its rliold upon t e base.

In order that rigid conduit may be connected in with the raceways or the outlet fittings, if such be desirable, the raceways may be provided inthe sides or top with suitable knockouts 34 and'similarly, the outlet fittin may have knockouts 35 in the sides of e same.v

In Fi re 8a typical rinstallation for a combine ceilin and floor slab is shown with a plurality of t e parallel raceways connected at intervals b cross over sections 36 siniilar in construction to the raceway'and outlets described. This arrangement enables the installation of a bridge work of wiring sufiicient to meet practically any requirements where the cross overs o'r transverse runs join the longitudinal raceways, the T- fittings 37 and cross fittings-88 may be em.-

vployed and the feed wires may be entered into the system by way of rigid conduit 39 orvbe extended to some other location by rigid conduit 40, special T- and L-fittin 41 and 42 being provided at such points.v esel latter fittings may be constructed as indicated in Figure 9- with base parts 43, meshing the base strips of the raceways having threaded necks 44 to yreceive the rigid conduit and constructed to have special cover .sections 45 interlocked therewith, which sections are cut out as indicated at `46 to fit over the conduit receiving necks 44.

Theo en continuouscharacter of boththe longitu inal and transverse or crofconnecting raceways enables the ldrawing of practically any numberof circuit wires that may be required and the full utilization of such wiring from practically any point or points in the ceiling. The raceway is of such la nature also that if in addition to the ceilii i outlets, outletsto the floor above are requir such floor outlets ma be provided in conjunction with theceiling outlets after the manner disclosed and covered in `our Patent #1,515,324. The flexibility of the system are relatively inexpensive, such iexibility is obtained at a minimum cost.'

The base stripsmay be suitabl tied together :when they are first. laid as y means of staple-like connectors 47 Figures 3 and 4 is thus a maximum and, as the outlet fittings lao through the outlets and expanded so as to be supported by the upper ends of the fixture outlets or the base strip. The outlet fittings may be of dlferen'tl 'd1- ameters in accordance with different wiring requirements. Correspondingly, the openings in the base strip to receive such fittings mav be of different sizes or shapes.

rllhe openings or seats in the base strip for the outlet fittings may be formed as knockouts which can be left in place where no outlets are to be provided or quickly punched out where fittings are to be inserted. Some of these knockouts which have been left in place are shown at 49 in Figure 8.

What is claimed is:

1. A raceway for electrical wiring comprising a base strip having outstanding marginal flanges for resting on a slab structure, a raised central portion forming the bottom of the raceway and connecting side portions between the marginal flanges and raised hottoin portion, said connecting side portions having outwardly faced seats and an inverted trough shaped cover having dependent inwardly projecting lugs on the side edges of the same for interlocking engagement with the side seats.

2. In apparatus of the character disclosed. a wire raceway comprising a base strip having knockouts at closely spaced intervals. outlet fittings adapted to be seated in the openings left by removal of selected knockouts from the base strip and a hollow cover engageable with the base strip over the knockouts and over the applied outlet fittings.

3. A wire raceway for embedding in concrete fioor slabs, comprising a substantially fiat base strip having openings therein, outlet fittings seated in said openings and dependent from said fiat base strip, said fittings having ceiling outlet portions at their lower ends and fiaring upwardly toward their upper ends to substantially the full width of the flat base strip and an inverted trough-like cover extending continuously over the fiat base strip and over the outlet fittings dependent from said fiat base strip and having its edges secured to the edge portions of the base strip.

4. A wire raceway for concrete fioor slabs and the like, comprising a substantially flat base strip having knockouts of substantially the full width thereof located at predetermined intervals, outlet fixtures having fiaring upper ends of substantially the full width of the base strip engagcable in openings in the base strip left by removal of said knockouts and an inverted trough-like cover engageable over said base strip.

5. In a wire raceway, a substantially .flat base strip having substantially rectangular openings therein and outlet fittings having fiaring end portions to fit in said openings,

the side walls of said fiaring end portions having supporting lugs to rest on top of the base strip and portions sprung to snap into interlocking engagement beneath the base strip.

6. A wire racewav for concrete floor slabs and the like comprising a substantially fiat base strip, ceiling outlet fittings carried thereby and dependent therefrom, an inverted hollow trough-like cover' overstanding and engaged with the edge portions of said flat base strip and fixture sup orts secured to the top of the inverted troug -like cover in line with and above said ceiling outlet fittings.

7. A wire raceway for concrete fioors or the like comprising a base strip substantially flat and having exposed seats in the edge ortions thereof, outlet fittings dependent rom the intermediate portion of said base strip between said seats and an arched cover having lugs at the edges thereof for interlocking engagement with the seats aforesaid.

8. A wire raceway for concrete fioors o1' the like, comprising a substantially fiat and continuous base strip having knock-outs along thev central portion of the same, ceiling outlets having interlocking engagement 1n the openings provided by removal of said knockouts and an inverted trough-like cover having interlocking engagement with opposite edges of the fiat base strip and extending continuously over said fiat base strip and over the open tops of the outlet fittings interlockedr in the. knock-out portions of said base strip.

9. A wire raceway for concrete floors or the like, comprising a substantially flat and continuous base strip to be supported on a concrete fioor slab, said strip having openings therein, ceiling outlets having interlocking engagement with said openings in the substantially fiat base strip and an inverted trough-like cover having interlocking engagement with the edges of said substantially fiat base strip and extending continuously over the same and over the open tops of the outlet fittings interlocked in the openings of said base strip.

10. A Wire raceway for concrete floors or the like, comprisingr a base stri to lie fiat over a concrete fioor slab, an arche( cover coextensive with said base strip and engaging along its edges with the side edge portions of the base strip, said meeting edges of the cover and base strip having portions interlocking to secure the cover to the base strip as the complemental portions of a wire raceway and ceiling outlets dependent from the base strip between the side edges of the same and covered by the arched cover.

11. A wire raceway for concrete floors or the like, comprising a base. strip to lie fiat over a concrete fioor slab, an arched cover 4cover and base strip having portions interlocking to secure the cover to the base strip as the complemental portions of a wire raceway and ceiling outlets dependent from the base strip between the side edges of the same 5 and'covered by the arched cover, the interlocking means between the base stri and cover including outwardly faced seats 1n the edge portions of the base strip and inturned lugs on the lower edges of the cover engaging lo in said outwardly facing seats.

12. A wire raceway for concrete floors or l the like, comprising a base strip to lie flat over a concrete floorslab, an arched cover coextensive with said base strip and engagin along its edges with the side edge portions o the base strip, said meetin edges of the cover and base strip having portions interlocking to secure the cover to the base strip as the cornplemental portions of a wire raceway and ceiling outlets dependent from the base strip between the side edges of the same and covered by the arched cover, the base strip havin a central raised portion from which the ceilging outlets are suspended and having depressed side shoulders below said central raised portion, said side shoulders carrying portions of the interlocking means for securing the cover over the base strip.

In witness whereof, we have hereunto set E our hands, this 1st day of March, 1926.

HARRY S. ARNOLD. RAY C. WILSON. 

